Parcel receiving chute



Aug. 30, 1932. H. MILLER PARCEL RECEIVING CHUTE Filed Jan. 19,y 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l /fi/P/P/ a if?,

m l v Aug. 30, 1932. H, MlLLER 1,874,112

` PARCEL RECEIVING CHUTE Filed Jan. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mento@ 501 venting the removal of a par-cel from the dotted lines g.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 rrr. SPTTFES HARLEY MILLER, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY- PAECEL RECEIVING CHUTE `Application led January 19,1932. Serial No. 587,505.r

This invention relates to store frontsin general, and particularly to a chute whichls located in the store and arranged as to receive a parcel from the outside. Y

One of the principal objects of my invention resides inl the provision of an extremely simple and highly effective device which may be manufactured on'a high production basis and be readily placed in its operative position 'L- within the inner portion of the store adjacent t'oan opening communicating with the outside or it may be instantly remo-ved from its seatedv position and the opening sealedg A further object of the invention resides in a locking member whereupon the chute or its corresponding sealing panel may be securely fastened from the inner vside of the store. v

A still further object of my invention is 'i to provide means within thechute which will I i chute.

For the attainment of the above and other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, l have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a portion of a store front and showing my novel parcel receiving device as secured to the side frame of the door, portions thereof in Figure 2 is a vertically longitudinal sectional view thereof, parts broken away;

' Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof, partially broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the ldoor similar to that shown inFig-' ure 2 but illustrating the parcel receiving opening obstructed by the sealing panel, and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken n on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

My invention, in the form or embodiment shown in the drawings and briefly described, comprises a stationary supporting fram-e 10, a removably mounted parcel receiving chute 11, automatically operated means for prechute 12, and locking means 13 for securely fastening the chute or its complemental sealing panel from their seated position. Y

rlhe stationary supporting frame which, in Vthis instance, is illustrated as associated with a front door 14 of a'store, is fitted within a substantially rectangular opening' 15 and securelyheld inposition by means of a plurality of'suitably arranged boltsor other fastening means indicated as at 16. As'clearly shown in AFigures 2 and 5, the supporting frame 10 consists of an outer plate portion 17, and angularly disposed and inwardly eXtending portions 18. It will be noted that these inwardly projecting portions 18 extend slightly beyond the inner surface of the door frame l5 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A U-shaped frame 19 is located upon the inner side of the door frame 14 and is adapted to'be securely held in position-.adjacent the opening and its stationary support-ing frame 10 by means of the bolts 16. A continuously formed groove 20 is provided in the side members 21 and in the bottom member 22 of the U-shaped'frame 19. It will now be appreciated that the supporting frame'lO and Y its mating U-shaped member 19, by reason of their fastening means 16, will provide a substantially rigid support for the purpose of either effectually hangingv the chute 11 or its removable panel. f l The chute 11, which may be preferably formed of sheet aluminum" or other desirable metal is formed with a vertically lextending portion 23 and a slightly enlarged and curved upper portion 24. An outwardly extending and continuous flange is integrally formed K with the enlarged or upper portion 24'of the chute 11. T his flange 25 may be either outwardly bent from the mouth of vthe chute or it may be formed ina substantially rectangular frame and secured thereto by welding or the like.r The bead or flange `25 not only serves as a ree'nforcing means for that portion ofv the chute but provides a novel means whereby the chute is firmly supported in its, operative position; By providing a. slight clearance between the engaging surfaces Aof the bead or flanges 25'and itslrespectivejchani nels or grooves 20, sliding engagement therebetween may be readily accomplished.

It may be here stated that the chute 11, in practice, may be quickly lifted out of its seated position with respect to the U-shaped member 19 should it be desired during the open or business hours of the store.

The lower open end of the chute 11 is provided along its outer side with a reenforcing band or strip 26 to which it issecured in any desired manner. I will now describe in detail the novel means for permitting the passage of a parcel downwardly through the chute but which acts automatically to prevent any unauthorized withdrawal therethrough. This band 26 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending and oppositely disposed lugs or ears 27 for the purpose of pivotally mounting the door 28. A laterally extending rod 29 issecured to the lower side of the door 28 and is located a relatively short distance from the pivotal tub shafts. 30. n A gate 31 is pivotally mounted within the chute 11, conveniently located between the upper open end of the chute and the bottom door V28, `for example, as illustrated in Figi Y ures 1, 2 and 3. This gate 31, which is preferably formed of sheet metal is provided with a pivotal rod 32 to which it is secured and which is adapted to extend through each side wall of the chute 11. `The rod 32 is formed into a bell crank shown as at 33 and extends from the same sidev as does the laterally extending ro'd 29. A connecting rod 34 is provided with loops upon its extreme ends which are adapted to be engaged by the free end ofA the bell crank 33 and the laterally extending rod 29 respectively. Cotter pins or other means may be employed for preventing the accidental displacement of the connecting rod with respect to their pivotal connections.

` Referring particularly to Figure 2 in the accompanying drawings, it Vwill be noted that the normal position of the gate 31 completely'obstructs the passage within the chute,

whereas the bottom door is in an open position. The dottedv lines in this ligure illustrate the other extreme position as, for example, when a package is on its way downward throughthe'chute, whereupon the gate 3l, which, in its extremely open position, has

lifted' the door 28 into its fully closed posi-` tion-through the medium of the connecting rod 24. It will be appreciated that this position is only momentary, because, when the parcel or package has passed clear of the gate 31, the door 28 immediately begins its opening movement.

Obviously, should some unauthorized person insert a stick or other contrivance downwardly through the chute in an effort to extricate or retract a'parcel through the chute, the downward movement of the gate 31 will tend to positively close the door 28, thereby foiling any such attempts. l

Should it be desired to illuminate the parcel receiving opening to not only render it more attractive during the night but at the same time compel the detection 'of anyone tampering with this device, I have provided a lighting device 35 at the upper end 24 of the chute 11. Y' Y f' 1 A substantially semi-circular. cut-out portion 36 is provided through one of the side flanges 25Vfor the purpose of receiving the threaded portion of the locking device 13. This locking device consists merely of a knurled headed member l having a screw threaded shank portion which is adapted for engagement within theV threaded opening formed through one ofthe legs 2l of the U- shaped member 19. Y 1

It-will now'be `appreciated that when it is desired to remove thechute 11 from its seated and locked position, it is merely necessary tol unscrew theV knurled locking member 13,

Vpermitting the, lifting of the entire chute through the guideways formed by the grooves Y 20. The sea-ling panel Z1O-may now be downwardly slid into itsseated position as is clearly shown inFigure 4: and securely fastened in its proper position by reinserting the lockp ing member 13, as illustrated in Figure 5. It is to be understood that the invention, however, is not intended to Ibe restrictedto the particular construction, nor to the par-1 ticular applications of such constructions, herein shown and described, nor to the various details thereof, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many various relations without departing` from the spirit and scope of the invention1 y the practical embodiment herein illustrated and described vbeing merely an Vattempt to show one of the .various possible forms in which the invention might be embodied.

What I claim is: p Y A parcel receiving device for store fronts having an opening therethrough, comprising a stationary supporting frame located on the inner side of the store front and aligned with said opening, a detachably mounted; chute adapted to be held in operative posi- Ltion with respect to said stationary support,

a normally closed gate mounted within the chute and adapted to be opened by the downward passage of a parcel therethrough, aV movably mounted and normally open door located at the extreme lower end of the chute, and a connecting rod interposed between the gate and said door for causing their simultaneous operation. I v

. HARRY MILLER. 

